Four Legs Good [Open to Multiple]

[wildmage_daine]

Daine trots through the park as a shaggy wolfhound, with Sarge and Molly at her side. It was probably cowardly of her to take a shape and flee the base, but not being able to talk to anyone was driving her mad. At least she can sort of talk to the People, though all she gets from them are feelings and impressions instead of words. Still, animals can get far more across without words than any two-legger can, and being in this shape, with her two canine friends beside her, feels enough like Pack to bring her some comfort.

She's unaware of the gathering at the fountain, but even if she knew about it, it would take some coaxing to get her there. Folk aren't often kind to strays, and she's not about to take human shape. At least when she's in an animal shape, not being able to talk to two-leggers feels normal.

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[wildmage_daine]

Daine was resting her head between her forepaws, but when Gabriel speaks, she lifts it again and watches his little pantomime. It's not difficult to figure out what he's getting at, and she lets out a low groan of commiseration.

There isn't much she can offer in response to the puzzled feeling she gets from him, though - unless he hasn't caught on that it's due to the rift. She transfers her gaze to the patch of sky above Bethesda Terrace and lifts her lip in a silent snarl, then looks to Gabriel to see if he's caught her meaning.

[has_a_horn]

He nods to Daine, letting her know he gets her meaning. He huffs out a breath and drops his head back to the bench. He'd assumed that it was the Rift, but the confirmation isn't exactly comforting. He lets a little bit of his frustration fade through to Daine, but his face is closed off, his eyes shut.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine heaves a sigh of her own. She understands his frustration perfectly. It's why she's out here, after all: much easier to wander the park as a dog and avoid most two-leggers than mope around the base, struggling to convey questions no one can answer, anyway.

Still, that doesn't mean she shouldn't try to cheer him up. She gives Molly a mental nudge, and a moment later, the little dog stretches forward to lick Gabriel's nose.

[has_a_horn]

Gabriel feels something from Daine, but he's not sure what it is until Molly is licking his face. He chuckles and pets the enthusiastic dog until she decides that she now needs to get up and rearrange herself completely. With little dog feet probing at his stomach, Gabriel huffs out a breath and throws a put-upon expression in Daine's direction.

"I hope you know that this is all your fault." he says, without malice. When Molly finally settles again, he pats her on the head and yawns. It hadn't been long ago now that he'd healed Yuri, and he'd definitely had enough of a reason for finding a place to lie down after that. The healing had taken more out of him than he'd expected it to, and even now he's still tired enough to easily fall asleep.

[wildmage_daine]

Whoops. There's something to talk about with Molly once they can talk again: not stepping all over folk, even if they've sort of invited you to. When Gabriel gives her a put-upon look, she thumps the ground sheepishly with her tail.

He yawns, and Daine suspects they really ought to leave him alone, now, if he's tired. So why is she so reluctant to leave? She feels like she owes him - that's part of it, though it could just as easily mean she owes him some privacy, so it's no excuse.

What if Romac finds him while he's sleeping? It might not be likely, but the idea is alarming enough that she can't shake it. If he's going to go dozing off where anyone could see him, then someone ought to keep an eye on him, right? To make sure he's okay?

Anyway, it's not as if he can't just shoo them away if they're so bothersome. He could have set Molly down, but he didn't. Maybe he'd like some company.

Daine glances around for passers-by, waiting for a moment when no one's watching her. As soon as the chance presents itself, she shifts, taking cat shape. That's a bit better - she wasn't cold in her dog shape by any means, but now she has thicker fur. She steps daintily over to Sarge, who sniffs her over with a slightly puzzled air. He's probably wondering why anyone would give up a perfectly good dog shape to be a cat.

He gets his answer when Daine leaps up onto the bench, quelling the enthusiastic greeting Molly would give her with a stern look. There's enough space for her to sit without having to resort to climbing on top of Gabriel, elsewise she wouldn't be up here at all. A cat's innate dignity will only get her so far, and she's not out to embarrass herself; she's just being friendly. Curling her tail around her forepaws, she blinks down at Gabriel, waiting to see how he'll respond.

[has_a_horn]

Gabriel blinks at the sudden appearance of a cat shaped Diane by his side, but it doesn't phase him for very long. He scoots to the side a little bit, allowing her as much room as he can give on the small bench. If she wants to cuddle, he's definitely not going to stop her.

[wildmage_daine]

He's not trying to shoo her away - and more importantly, he's not trying to pet her. All right, then. She settles onto the bench beside him, tail twitching in a way that might suggest that he'll get a good swat if he tries anything. After a few moments pass, during which Gabriel behaves himself, Daine starts to purr.

[has_a_horn]

Gabriel chuckles when she starts purring. He's not entirely sure what's going on here, but being surrounded by warm and furry animals isn't a bad way to spend a morning. After a few moments, his eyes drop closed and he falls asleep,

[wildmage_daine]

Consider it a short-lived peace offering until the next time he annoys her. Or a trio of adorable bodyguards. Or something. Daine's mostly just trying to show her appreciation for his help in a way that won't get her mercilessly teased, later.

Depending on how long he's out, she might still be there when he wakes. Otherwise, he'll find that some of the park's crow population are occupying themselves in the vicinity of his bench, ready to make life difficult for anyone who tries to mess with him while he's sleeping.